Serbia is in the throes of a political crisis, sparked by a deadly infrastructure collapse in Novi Sad late last year, with ongoing student-led protests putting immense pressure on the government. 

The crisis has reached its peak following the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. His resignation, combined with the mounting protests, has left the Serbian government reeling. This has become the most serious political upheaval Serbia has faced under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), who have ruled the country for over a decade.

The catalyst for the unrest was the collapse of a concrete roof at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024, which killed 15 people and exposed deep concerns over government negligence and corruption.

On February 1, tens of thousands of protesters, including students and their supporters from Belgrade and across the country, gathered in Novi Sad to mark the three-month anniversary of the tragedy. The protests, which began as memorial vigils, have grown into widespread demonstrations demanding accountability from the government. Students have taken the lead, calling for the full release of documents related to the station’s reconstruction, which they allege was poorly managed and rife with corruption.

The protest, dubbed “Three Months, Three Bridges”, saw demonstrators block three major bridges in Novi Sad. Students were joined by people from across the country. The highways to Novi Sad were busy with traffic, with long queues along the toll roads. Drivers honked their horns to anti-government anthems; passengers hung out their windows draped in Serbian flags.

They had come to Novi Sad to voice their discontent not only over the collapse but also the government's broader failure to address public concerns about corruption and transparency. A significant blockade of the Freedom Bridge continued through February 2.

The scale of the protests has reached unprecedented levels, with some labelling them Serbia’s largest-ever protest movement. Students have marched and blockaded cities for months, with hundreds walking 50 miles from Belgrade to Novi Sad on January 30-31. Along the route, they were met with support from local residents, even in traditionally pro-government areas. In the town of Stara Pazova, a feast awaited the marchers. Residents went out on the streets in large numbers to welcome the students as heroes, in a remarkable display of solidarity.

Vucevic’s resignation on January 28 followed weeks of intense protest, strike action and mounting calls for accountability. Local officials, including the mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Duric, also stepped down amid the growing fallout from the tragedy. However, the protests have continued to gain momentum, with demonstrators vowing to keep up the pressure until their demands for transparency and justice are met.

In response to the crisis, Vucic has made several promises, including releasing additional classified documents related to the reconstruction of the station, offering pardons to arrested students and professors and reshuffling the cabinet. However, these gestures have done little to stem the tide of unrest, and many now question whether the protests could lead to a broader political transformation.

Amidst the turmoil, Vucic has indicated the possibility of calling snap parliamentary elections in April if a new government is not formed through the parliament. However, the SNS has yet to name a successor to Vucevic.

As protests continue across the country, including in smaller towns like Mladenovac and Bela Crkva, the government faces mounting pressure to address the demands of the demonstrators. The sheer persistence of the protests signals deepening cracks in Serbia's political system, with many citizens now calling for Vucic to step down. 

On February 2, the president reiterated his stance on Instagram, declaring that no transitional government would be formed, and elections would proceed if a new government could not be established. However, the gathering momentum of this weekend's protests may dissuade Vucic from taking that risk.